CODE 2, VOL 38, NO 21 : 14 october 2024

EMSFC APPOINTMENT DISPUTED BY UFUQ

• APPOINTMENT TO THE ROLE SUSPENDED
• QFD AND UFUQ DISCUSSING HOW TO RESOLVE DISPUTE
• COMPETENCY AND MERIT ASSESSMENT KEY TO DISPUTE

You may be aware that QFD recently announced an appointment to the Executive Manager State Fire Communications (EMSFC) role.  Your union has concerns about the merit and selection processes used by QFD as they relate to operational fire communications manager competencies. This whole matter is about how QFD managed recruitment and selection processes and not about any individual person.

Your union has lodged a dispute at the QIRC with a view to requiring QFD to correct the process and about what competencies would constitute operational versus other managerial or administrative competencies. Management and administration competencies are important to the fire communications manager role and would be very important to the EMSFC role. 

But that’s not what the job offer called for.

We have kept all of your fire communications branch representatives updated as the process has progressed across the past week, so please approach them to discuss where things are at. But briefly, the appointment process has been suspended whilst the dispute continues (in recognition of the status quo obligations).

QFD is complying with its status quo obligations by stopping the formal appointment and also cancelling gazettal of the appointment.

Your union and QFD have committed to holding discussions on what competencies do and might apply to the EMSFC role and therefore the role description and then the job offer.

This could have been avoided if those in State Communications responsible for the management of the process applied the recruitment and selection process appropriately given the offer and their obligations. The UFUQ considers merit and appointment processes to be extremely important to all members.

Finally, I know some people have mixed feelings about this dispute, but to be clear and to repeat what I said above, the dispute is about merit processes and how QFD manages such matters and not about individuals.

I will of course keep you updated as the dispute progresses.

John Oliver - General Secretary